Prague, Nov 10 (CTK) – Former Czech president Vaclav Klaus, 74, is writing petitions and inviting top politicians to consultations about the migrant crisis, and some of his supporters therefore started to believe in his political comeback, Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes yesterday.
The Vaclav Klaus Institute in Prague where his aides have enthusiastically counted more than 80,000 signatures on his petition against the refugee quotas, wants to become the centre to “avert the threatening migration disaster,” MfD says.
In late September, Klaus sent a letter to the leaders of political parties over “the threat to the future of our country” in connection with the migrant crisis and he invited them to the institute for consultations about “suitable steps to be taken in the interest of Czech citizens.”
The adherents of Klaus, Czech president in 2003-2013, PM in 1993-97 and founder and former long-term head of the right-wing Civic Democratic Party (ODS), feel encouraged by his recent activities. Some of them are even climbing Czech mountains in his name, literally, MfD says.
“We have agreed to organise marches that should turn into mass protests. The ex-president likes these non-violent events,” Jiri Janecek, chairman of the Civic Conservative (OK) Party told MfD.
Most recently, Klaus´s supporters from the OK ascended Rip, a mountain connected with legends on the birth of the ancient Czech nation, where they signed Klaus´s petition calling for a referendum or early election.
“This is one in dozens of events held by various groups and associations that have supported the call initiated by Vaclav Klaus. We naturally welcome all of these activities,” Petr Macinka, from the Vaclav Klaus Institute, said.
“I suppose that Vaclav Klaus is considering returning to politics, but it is hard to say in what direction,” Jan Veleba, head of the Party of Citizens Rights (SPO) formed by supporters of current President Milos Zeman, said after a visit to Klaus´s institute.
However, as usual Klaus, who is no longer an ODS member, has not made any clear statement about his possible return to active politics and he has no action plan to solve the migrant crisis on his table either, MfD writes.
MEP Petr Mach, chairman of the right-wing Eurosceptic Free Citizens party, is not convinced about Klaus´s comeback.
“I do not think that Vaclav Klaus would have an ambition to return to politics. Our meeting has not indicated this,” Mach told MfD.
Klaus´s consultations with top politicians continue. He now wants to meet the chairmen of the government parties, the Social Democrats (CSSD), ANO and Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), Macinka said.
But ANO chairman, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Andrej Babis said he had no time to meet Klaus and that he would only answer his letter of invitation in writing.
“I do not know what new aspects he [Klaus] could bring to the migrant crisis issue,” Babis added.
“The consultations are to show that there is a broad consensus on the question of the migration disaster into which irresponsible bureaucrats from the EU are trying to plunge our country even among followers of often ideologically irreconcilable opinions who agree that we should not give in to the ideas coming from Brussels,” Macinka told MfD.
People from Klaus´s circles point out that by the consultations with politicians, Klaus is just mapping the situation to find out whether the “Vaclav Klaus trademark” is still strong and that he is not preparing his candidature yet, MfD says.
“He has not been talking about it, but as a proper politician he never says never either,” one of them told MfD.
Sociologist Jan Herzmann said Klaus might succeed with his comeback, but if he wanted to build up a political party again and run for parliament, he would be in an extremely difficult position, he said.
“He would have a chance if he were running for president. But he must not go against Milos Zeman,” Herzmann said.
